Young Pitchers Off To Good Start

Chuck Hixson

04/18/2009

Through the first ten days of the minor league season, young pitching has been the story for the Phillies. Whether it's the young guns at Lakewood, Kyle Drabek at Clearwater, a bunch of young prospects at Reading or any of the other young pitchers who have been impressive, there's plenty to like so far.

Pitching, pitching, pitching. It's all about pitching. The Phillies are
showing that to be the case so far in the early going, with some of their young
pitchers turning in strong outings in the minor league system.

Perhaps most impressively is the fact that the only thing likely holding Kyle Drabek (2-0, 1.50) at Clearwater is warmer weather in the northeast. Drabek has
had two good starts, including his last outing that consisted of seven shutout
innings against Lakeland when he allowed just four hits and no walks, while
striking out nine hitters. He has allowed just six hits and three walks in 12
total innings and his velocity is coming back nicely from Tommy John surgery 21
months ago. Once the weather warms at Reading, Drabek will likely make that jump
and potentially will wind up at Triple-A Lehigh Valley at some point during the
season as well. For now, it's just a matter of continuing to build arm strength.

Drabek's teammate, Carlos Monasterios (1-0, 0.00), also beat up on Lakeland,
throwing a seven-inning complete game shutout against the Flying Tigers.
Monasterios, 23, has some work to do this season to prove that he is a
legitimate prospect. He hasn't shown the type of promise that the Phillies had
for him since he was acquired from the Yankees in the Bobby Abreu deal in 2006,
but keep in mind that he did just turn 23 and some pitchers do take longer to
develop. Since he spent all of last season at Clearwater, a fast start could get
him promoted to Reading as well, so the Phillies can gauge how he can perform at
the next level.

Vance Worley (1-0, 2.53) is already at Reading and pitching well for the
R-Phils. In two starts, Worley has thrown 10 2/3 innings and has allowed eight
hits and five walks, while striking out 12. Worley needs to cut down on the
walks a little, but he's been impressive so far, especially when you consider
that he was jumped over Clearwater to go to Reading to start the season. Oh, and
when he's not pitching, Worley is hitting .400 (2-for-5) with a home run at the
plate. It's always a good sign when a pitcher has a higher batting average than
hitters do against him and has given up less home runs than he has hit on the
season. Reading also has Mike Stutes (1-0, 0.00) made an impressive Double-A
debut after he also skipped Clearwater to start the year with Reading. Stutes
allowed two hits and three walks in five innings in his first start of the year.

Reading's bullpen features a couple of left-handers who have both pitched
well in relief for the R-Phils this season.

Sergio Escalona - three saves in four appearances - has been impressive as
Reading's closer, posting a 3.18 ERA in the early going. It hasn't all been easy
for Escalona though, because he's had some wildness (four walks in 5 2/3
innings) and opponents are hitting .286 against him this season. In the end
though, Escalona has converted three straight save opportunities after blowing a
save on opening night. His bullpen mate, Antonio Bastardo (1-0, 0.00), who is
being converted to relieving after pitching as a starter until this season, has
thrown four innings, allowing two hits and a walk, while striking out four.

"We thought that he [Bastardo] ultimately didn't have a deep enough
repertoire to be successful as a starter," explained Phillies minor league
director Steve Noworyta. "But on the other hand, he would fit well in the
bullpen, especially if his slider comes around."

At Lakewood, Jason Knapp (0-2, 3.18) has pitched well in his first two
starts, but just hasn't gotten a lot of help. Knapp, who is just 18 and pitching
in his first full-season league, has thrown 11 1/3 innings, has 16 strikeouts
and opponents are hitting just .211 against him, but he's been unable to pick up
a win. He might have gotten one in his last start, but he committed an error
that led to two unearned runs in Lakewood's 4-2 loss to Lake County.

Teammate Tyler Cloyd (1-1, 3.75) has been impressive and has fared a little
better than Knapp in that he has been able to pick up a win. Cloyd, 20, has
pitched six innings in each of his first two starts and opponents are hitting
just .227 against him.

Overall, Phillies minor league clubs have a combined 4.31 ERA. If you factor
out Lehigh Valley's 5.03 start, which is primarily because of their bullpen, the
three other minor league clubs have a combined 4.05 ERA.